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U.S. Student Funding
The following financial aid information is for students who are U.S. citizens.
Laurier is approved for the U.S. Direct Loan Program. Students wishing to pursue Direct Loan Funding must complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Master Promissory Note (MPN) each year.
Laurier is not approved to receive Pell Grant Funding.
Laurier does not participate in any of the U.S. Private Loan programs.
For more information, including eligibility requirements and frequently asked questions on borrowing and repayment, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website.
Before You Begin
Before you begin your application process, we recommend you review the comprehensive resource for U.S. Federal Student Aid, Understand Financial Aid.
Eligibility
Students who are U.S. citizens, eligible non-citizens and who are enrolled in at least half-time in an eligible degree program can apply.
All eligible programs require high school diploma or equivalent.
Ineligible Programs
The following programs are not approved for Title IV Funding (U.S. funding):
- BA (Laurier) & LLB (Sussex, UK)
- BA Policing
- BSc Paramedicine
- Distance Education (online courses or programs)
- General Graduate Studies
- Graduate Diploma Programs
- Laurier’s Executive programs
- Laurier International College
- Pre-MBA Programs
- Martin Luther University College (MLUC) programs at not eligible for Title IV funding.
- Master of Finance
- Master of Public Safety
- MSc User Experience
- Non-degree certificate programs
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
- Post-degree studies
- Qualifying year studies
- Study abroad/exchange programs
- Unclassified studies
- Joint academic programs with Conestoga College and the Vancouver Film School are not eligible for Title IV funding.
This list of programs is subject to change. All new programs are reviewed for eligibility.
Apply for Loan
Before you apply for your Direct Student/Plus loans you must complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
We recommend that you complete your Entrance Counselling and submit your FASFA prior to July 1 annually to ensure that the first instalment of your funds will be available for September. Students who are enrolled in any online distance learning courses are not eligible to receive federal U.S. loan funding for these specific courses.
Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool
When you complete the FAFSA online, use the IRS Data Retrival Tool for easier and more accurate form completion, and for a simple verification process when you update income information.
To access the IRS tool, your FAFSA PIN is required.
Notify the Financial Aid Office
Complete the U.S. Student Aid Funding - FASFA Application Notification form (2024-25) to notify the Laurier Financial Aid office that your FASFA and MPN has been completed, and to provide required information for our office to process your application. We will begin reviewing U.S. loan applications late-July each year. If we require any further information or clarification of your program, you will receive an email from the Financial Aid Office to your MyLaurier email account.
For further instructions, visit the FAFSA Tutorial: 7 Easy Steps to completing FAFSA.
- Access the application website using your FAFSA PIN.
- Complete the application for your Direct Student/Plus Loan.
- Sign your Master Promissory Note.
- Complete your Entrance Counselling and Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement Form.
Parents or graduate students will complete the Plus or Grad Plus request if applying for these loans.
Once your direct loan is approved:
- The funds will be disbursed in two equal instalments (three equal instalments for graduate students) early fall and early winter.
- The disbursement will be sent by the U.S. Department to Laurier using an electronic funds transfer.
- The disbursement will be applied directly to the student fee account.
If you are receiving a Parent Direct Plus loan, this amount will be applied to the student fee account.
For first year students, the initial disbursement of funds cannot be released until after the first 30 days of your term start date.
Once the student account has been paid in full, you may request a refund of any excess funds following the refund policy processes.
The U.S. Department of Education requires all U.S. citizens receiving direct loans to participate in exit counselling shortly before they graduate, withdraw or cease to be enrolled in at least half-time.
Information on repayment of your student loans is available on the Repayment Information section of the Federal Student Aid website.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
Federal Aid students enrolled at Laurier are required to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements. Laurier is required to ensure that all Federal Aid students maintain a minimum level of academic progress. Funds are awarded with the understanding that students will make progress toward their chosen degree.
The academic progress of students is evaluated prior to the disbursement of Federal Aid before the start of each academic year to determine eligibility for continued aid and after each term funded by US student aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured by:
- The student’s academic year grade point average
- The maximum time frame allowed to complete the academic program
- Must achieve a minimum GPA of 4.0 (C-) each year
- Must maintain a minimum cumulative completion rate of two-thirds of credits attempted. This is minimum 3 grades of a ‘D’ or better in a term or 6 grades of a ‘D’ or better between 2 terms of an academic year (typically fall and winter terms)
- Students must complete their educational program, within a time-frame no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program (for example, completing a four year degree program within six years)
Student Loan Probation Status
Student loan probation status happens when you fail to meet the academic progress requirements. This status is in place for the subsequent academic year of enrolment.
During this term, you may receive U.S. funding.
Student Loan Denied Status
If you fail to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements for a second year (e.g. failing to satisfy the 150% requirement), you will be placed on a student loan denied status.
During this time:
- No financial aid will be disbursed during subsequent terms until you are removed from the denied status. There is no exception to this requirement.
- There is no probationary period once the 150% standard has been exceeded.
Reinstatement of Aid After Student Loan Denied Status
To regain eligibility in a probationary status for the next academic year, you must:
- attend Laurier, pay tuition and fees without the help of Federal student financial aid,
- do well enough in coursework to meet all the satisfactory academic progress standards.
To reinstate aid after your student loan denied status:
- Submits a written letter of appeal with supporting documentation outlining an exceptional circumstances to be considered and the Enrolment Services: Student Awards Office grants the appeal.